noun
Meaning 1
The property of being motherly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
motherliness
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
Meaning 2
the quality of having or showing the tenderness and warmth and affection of or befitting a mother
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the girl's motherliness made her invaluable in caring for the children
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: maternalism, maternal quality, maternity
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: parental quality
History
Etymology
Etymology tree English motherly Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English motherliness From motherly + -ness.
Across languages
Translations
4 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: äidillisyys — quality
- Tamil: தாய்மை (tāymai) — quality
- Finnish: äidillisyys — property
- Tamil: தாய்மை (tāymai) — property